Living

The Midlands has a unique quality of life which other regions cannot match. You can be one hour’s commute from Dublin by train or car and yet be close to the rural areas of the Slieve Blooms or the Grand Canal. Indeed, the most recent edition of “The Lonely Planet Guide to Ireland” expressed concern that “traditional Ireland” was disappearing but it said “a genuine slice of rural Irish life” could still be found in the Irish Midlands.....

Over the past few years, roads and other infrastructure such as broadband have seen considerable improvement so that now you can have the best of both worlds. For people interested in setting up their own business, there are extensive supports from enterprise agencies and educational establishments.

Parents have a wide choice of quality school or childcare facilities to consider. There’s plenty to do for kids as well: sports clubs, playgrounds, water sports, hill walking, activity centres, cinemas and arts centres.

Long commutes to work are less of an issue in the Midlands where people enjoy shorter journey times, fewer traffic jams and parking is generally not a problem. People have more free time and the region has plenty of sports and leisure options to fill that time. An emerging artisan food network is having a wonderful impact on restaurants and dining options as well as supplying a growing number of farmers markets. Restaurants such as the Wineport Lodge, well-known from RTE’s “The Restaurant” have long put the region on the map for good food. Well-known local brands include Glenisk, Mossfield Cheese, Rossmore Farmhouse Ice Cream and a host of others.

For those feeling like something more energetic, there’s the Tri-Athlone Festival, a triathlon event which takes place in Athlone. For star-gazers, there’s the Cosmos Party, the Midlands being one of only a few locations to hold this event for astronomers and budding astronomers alike. Ireland’s ancient tradition of learning and scholarship can be accessed through a visit to the region’s world-renowned monastic sites of Clonmacnoise and Durrow.

The region offers a variety of living options from contemporary new homes to traditional Georgian style houses or country cottages. Whether it’s the yesteryear-chic of a Georgian house or the charm of a country cottage, you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for in the Midlands. For more information visit MyHome.ie.

Like most communities in Ireland, the Midlands possess strong GAA links with each town and village having access to join hurling or football teams. For decades this has driven the community spirit which is at the core of the Irish identity. Also popular in the Midlands is rugby, triathlons, running clubs, swimming clubs and much more.

The Midlands offers a quality and pace of life that benefits you, your family, and your business.